Nov 10, 2016
An elegant evening of inspiration is planned for hundreds of prominent Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County donors at this year’s Sandler Family Major Gifts Event. They’ll gather at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at The Polo Club in Boca Raton for a cocktail reception, dinner and an exciting keynote address from The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., Former Prime Minister of Canada. Celebrating major donors to the Federation’s 2017 Annual Campaign, the longstanding premier event in local Jewish philanthropy is named for Phyllis & Harvey Sandler and family. This year, it will be aptly held on “Giving Tuesday, the Global Day of Philanthropy.” Toby and Leon Cooperman will be the evening’s honorees, in recognition of their transformative vision and generosity on behalf of the local Jewish community and the Jewish people.
Nov 4, 2016
Late last month, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted a dangerous resolution that aims to change the status quo of the Temple Mount and declare the Western Wall a part of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Oct 31, 2016
A new multi-media Yad Vashem Holocaust exhibit will be available for public view at two showings, on November 9 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., and on November 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County campus. There is no charge to view the exhibit, but advance online registration is required at jewishboca.org/yadvashemusa.
Oct 19, 2016
Commemorating the 78th anniversary of the event considered the start of the Holocaust, the 15th annual Kristallnacht Film Forum will showcase “Buried Prayers” on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at 1:15 and 6:00 p.m. in Zinman Hall on the Federation campus. “Buried Prayers” tells (in English) the unknown story of a group of Jews who, in 1943, stood in a field in Majdanek, a death camp in Poland. Fearing their deaths, they buried their most prized possessions in the soil. After 60 years the survivors returned with an Israeli archaeological team and were given 72 hours by the Polish government to work at the site. The screenings will feature, in person, Matt Mazer, Executive Director and creative force behind the film, and local Holocaust survivor Norman Frajman. Raising funds for March of the Living scholarships, the Forum will also feature a Donor Reception honoring Myrna and Dr. David Gross between the screenings.
Oct 14, 2016
Amid premium networking, business leaders and professionals will hear from Ron Gallatin, Former Member of the Operating Committee, Director of Corporate Strategy and Product Development, and Managing Director of Lehman Brothers Inc. Gallatin, also a prominent local philanthropist, will keynote the season’s first Lewis Katz Industry Icon Series event on Friday morning, October 28. Well over 100 will gather for breakfast at 8:00 a.m., with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m.
Oct 10, 2016
With winds topping 140 miles per hour and unprecedented storm surges, Hurricane Matthew has left a long path of destruction in Haiti and other Caribbean areas, and to the north of us along the eastern coast through North Carolina. The powerful storm has wreaked havoc and forced hundreds of thousands to flee for their lives; many are returning to little or nothing left.
Oct 10, 2016
Women of all ages from throughout the Jewish community are invited to two opportunities to hear the remarkable Dafna Michaelson Jenet and to open the women’s season for the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County over breakfast at the Polo Club or at an evening with dessert at the Weisman Center on November 16. Jenet’s book, It takes a little crazy to make a difference, chronicles this young, then newly single mother’s jumping off the path and hitting the road for the 52 weeks of one year to visit all 50 US states and conduct more than 500 interviews. Through this extraordinary experience, she forged a new life built on inspiring others with the stories of ordinary people solving problems in their communities, neighborhoods, businesses and lives and changing the world one by one. The couvert is $45, with no minimum gift required to attend.
Sep 29, 2016
We join with others across the globe in deeply mourning this week’s passing of Shimon Peres, z’l. Universally recognized as one of Israel’s greatest leaders, an eloquent spokesperson for his country and a strong advocate for all Jewish peoplehood, this iconic elder statesman will forever occupy an extraordinary place in our people’s story. Peres came by his unparalleled stature with vital roles from the very start of Israel’s statehood and War of Independence, all the way through the country’s most recent endeavors to achieve peace, and its efforts to create a “start-up” nation that have made Israel an economic and technological superpower. Peres held nearly every Israeli cabinet position, serving twice as prime minister and once as president. May his memory be for blessing and may we strive to keep it as a light unto our community and our people.
Sep 26, 2016
The Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County recently received a special visit from a representative of ESGR, a program of the U.S. Department of Defense. Arriving on a mission of honor, Lenny Miller, Vice Chair of Florida ESGR, presented Federation’s COO, Mel Lowell with the Patriot Award, “for contributing to national security and protecting liberty and freedom by supporting employee participation in America’s National Guard and Reserve Force.” Lowell was nominated for the award by Federation’s Assistant VP of Security & Transportation, Ted Morris.
Sep 20, 2016
Some of South Palm Beach County’s most resoundingly philanthropic women roared their way to Washington, DC for a few action-packed September days at the biennial International Lion of Judah Conference (ILOJC). Fifty strong, they proudly comprised one of the event’s largest community delegations. To start, easily recognized by their fuchsia-pink, Lion-embroidered pashmina shawls, our Lions enjoyed two days of special activities together. They also learned, bonded and got inspired at conference plenaries and breakout sessions with some of today’s most respected, high-level speakers in religion, culture and art, business, politics and philanthropy, on issues affecting the Jewish community at home and abroad. And they feted our own Emily Grabelsky, who received the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award at the conference.
Sep 16, 2016
We at the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County join supporters of Israel worldwide, in hailing the unprecedented defense aid package just signed. Strengthening what U.S. and Israel officials called the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations at the State Department signing ceremony, the $38 billion, ten-year agreement constitutes the largest aid package to any country in American history.
Sep 15, 2016
A free, high quality children’s book mailed to your home every month may sound too good to be true. But families raising Jewish children ages six months through eleven years in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Highland Beach have gotten quite used it – and there’s room for more to sign up for PJ Library® and PJ Our Way™. Families are also invited to join a lively, free Family Sukkot Celebration on Sunday, October 16, 2016 from 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. at the giant sukkah in the Cypress Preserve on the Federation campus. They’ll enjoy PJ Library Story Time, Singin’ with Miss Susan, arts and crafts, games and sports, and kosher snacks – and, of course, shaking the lulav.
Sep 9, 2016
With our new season beginning and a New Year on the horizon, I’m looking forward to sharing news and perspectives with you again after a very busy hiatus. And I’m proud to tell you that our busy 2015-16 season led our Federation to some great accomplishments on behalf of our community. Our new season is already in gear, on the heels of an Annual Campaign that, increasing once again, brought in more than $15 million; and amid our Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation’s significant growth. Now I’m headed off to Washington, DC with 50 of our community’s brightest, most caring and dedicated women, for the biennial International Lion of Judah Conference, where own Emily Grabelsky will receive the prestigious Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award.
Sep 7, 2016
From the Reform and Orthodox traditions, two South Palm Beach County rabbis are now well into their first year of Shalom Hartman Institute’s sixth Rabbinic Leadership Initiative (RLI). Following a rigorous selection process by the Institute, Dan Levin, Senior Rabbi at (Reform) Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, and Rabbi Josh Broide, a practicing Orthodox Rabbi who serves as Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, were selected to begin this prestigious, three-year intensive fellowship program this past summer.
Aug 31, 2016
On Thursday, September 1, everyone can support the community by purchasing acclaimed singer and philanthropist Deborah Silver’s newest CD or download, The Gold Standards, on iTunes or Amazon at deborahsilvermusic.com. Deborah – Boca Raton’s own talented recording artist – is donating 100 percent of all net proceeds from her sales on September 1 to the 2017 Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign to meet vital human needs.
Aug 23, 2016
Local estate professionals will share much more than congenial company, prime networking, and a lively cocktail reception at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation’s PAC Kickoff & Membership Drive Cocktail Reception. Gathered at the Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel on Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 5:30 p.m., many of our community’s most influential legal, accounting, investment advisory, banking and insurance professionals will also share a deep commitment to helping the Jewish community in a most significant way.
Jul 25, 2016
Children and families are invited by PJ Library® in South Palm Beach County to drop in between 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. at frozen yogurt shops around town for sweet treats on hot summer Thursday nights - and enjoy storytime with local rabbis as well as arts & crafts. For a second year, Conservative, Orthodox and Reform synagogues are partnering with PJ Library for the Sweet Summer Series. Each Thursday night through August 11, a rabbi from one of seven partner synagogues will read PJ Library stories.
Jul 25, 2016
Nice, Istanbul, Orlando, Paris, Brussels, San Bernardino…. The list keeps growing with attacks in more and more cities and countries. When will it stop? When will good, freedom-loving people stop dying at the hands of terrorists?
Jun 27, 2016
A late afternoon of great family fun in the cool indoors is in store when nationally acclaimed Jewish music rock star Rick Recht headlines the interactive, action-packed PJ Library Summer Community Concert in Boca Raton on Thursday, July 28 in Zinman Hall at the Federation from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Once again, Jewish families from across the community with kids of all ages will enjoy singing, dancing and a great time together with PJ Library. They’ll also have a chance to learn about our Jewish community’s wealth of resources for families by browsing the PJ partners’ displays. Tickets are $5 online in advance per child or $8 per child at the door, and accompanying adults are free of charge.
Jun 23, 2016
At the June 22 Grand Opening of the Ted & Barbara Wolk Spa and Fitness Center, Federation’s new neighbors at Sinai Residences of Boca Raton had a full view of the facilities and services they will now enjoy on a daily basis. The luxurious setting offers an array of professional services for women and men, and a high-end resort quality pool and patio area as part of the Residences’ top tier amenities. Naming the Spa and Fitness Center with a $1 million gift, Ted and Barbara Wolk have been the first to leave a legacy through one of the prestigious opportunities at Sinai Residences of Boca Raton. The Wolks were proudly on hand at the earlier overall Grand Opening of Sinai Residences, which honored the couple and included a special dedication of the spa building.
